Tio Hardiman Joins South Austin Block Club for Peace Circle Gathering

This was the first of many peace circle gatherings planned for Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods

(Chicago, Ill.) — Tio “Mr. CeaseFire” Hardiman held a peace circle gathering today in Chicago’s South Austin neighborhood. The well-attended peace circle gathering brought together many community members, block club presidents, and 29th Ward Alderman Chris Taliaferro. They discussed the various issues faced by many Chicago communities, tactics that have worked to reduce violent crime on their blocks, and ways to help Chiacgo’s troubled youth.

According to event organizer and notable nonviolence expert Tio Hardiman, this is the first of many peace circle gatherings planned for Chicago over what will undoubtedly be a violent summer. “We want everybody in Chicago to know that even though we’ve had a very violent Memorial Day weekend, we are here promoting peace in Chicago’s South Austin community. We’ve been working here in the South Austin community for about a year and a half now and things are going pretty good. We had some reductions in violence back in 2022 and plan to keep the trend going.”

Alderman Taliaferro said, “As we celebrate Memorial Day and we recognize those who have sacrificed their lives so we that can be in a county that allows us to express our freedoms, in a county that allows us to stand here on this day, as residents, to say that we are fighting violence in the city of Chicago. We are fighting violence in the streets of Austin. And I want to particularly thank Tio Hardiman and all the stakeholders here for coming out today to express on this Memorial Day that they have this community on their shoulders…We have seen over a 48 percent reduction in violent crimes, shootings, and murders in the South Austin community, and that’s because of our fine police, and it’s also because of our fine residents who come out day in and day out to share their concerns with the community.

With Memorial Day being Chicago’s unofficial kickoff to summer, violence remains a top concern for those living in the communities that are plagued by violence. Hardiman plans to hold many more peace circle gatherings throughout Chicago’s most violent communities.

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About Tio Hardiman

Tio Hardiman is a radio personality and nonviolence activist in Chicago, Illinois. In 2018, Hardiman ran in the Democratic Primary Election for Illinois Governor. His nonprofit organization, Violence Interrupters, focuses on high level gang mediation and stopping retaliations. His radio show, the Tio Mr. CeaseFire Hardiman Show, can be heard on Sunday mornings from 6 am to 7 am on 1690 WVON.

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